Improvement in wash-stand



PATENTED JULY 4, 18:65:

OOOOO 0 G. DIETERIGH'.

HAND WASHING DEVICE FOR ONE ARMED PERSONS.

Mmw

ma nolms PETER! ca. FHOTQ-LIIHO. ASHINOTON n c PATENT OFFIGE.

eus'rAvE DIETERIOH, on-new YORK, -N. Y.

, IMPROVEMENT m WASH-STAND APPLIANCES FOR ONE-ARMED PERSONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,538, dated July 4,1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE DIETERIOH, of the city, county, and State of New York,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Toilet Devices for Soldiers with One Arm and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the. art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents my invention in front elevation, showing it applied to a wash-stand. Fig. 2 represents it in section on the line as. of Fig.1. Fig.3 is an enlarged front view of the device. Fi being removed. Fig. 5 is an under-side view thereof. side by which it isapplied to a washstander other fixture. I

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding'parts. I

i The o'bjectot thid invention is to provide means to enable one who has lost-an arm or a hand to wash his remaining hand. and arm without assistance.

A sponge or other suitable material, which should be flexibleand porous, is fixed to the upper surface of an open frame, which slides in grooves on'the upper surface of a bed-plate capable'of being attached to the side of a washstand or other fixture. The apparatus is aff xed in an inclined position, so'as. to let any water expressed from, the sponge to run off from it through a channel in the bed-plate.

A designates the bed-plate of the apparatus. It consists of a curved plate, from one of whose sides depends an ear, O,which receives a clampin g-screw, D. The bottom of the bed-plate has two studs, B B, separated a little ways from each other and standing far enough behind the pendent ear to permit the edge of a washstand to come between them, as illustrated in the drawings. applied against the edge of the washstand the implement will be, held securelythereto. It is applied in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 2, to allow water to run 011' from it. The

bed-plate A'is curved in cross-section, and its upper face is depressed throughout its whole length to receive the sliding'frame F. This 4 is a plan of the same, the sponge- Fig. 6 is a side view, seen from the' When the clamping-screw is depression is confined between the lines 111, which designate the 'sidcsof the depression.

each other toward the lower or inner end of 'the apparatus.

F is a perforated plate, of curved form in cross-section, ofa length equal to the bed-plate, and of a width and form to allow it to be in serted between the sides 1 lot the depression in said plate. Its sides are bent down'to a depth equal to the depth of the depression in which it is to be placed, so as to raise its body or under surface clear above the bed-plate, thus plate, through which the water and. suds from shown iuthedrawings. The perforations of the plate F serve a twofold use: first, to allow a sponge to be tied to it by strings or by wire, which may pass throughsaid perforations; and, second, to permit water from the sponge to-run through'to the surface of the bed-plate A, down which it will go and be discharged 'at-its end into any receptacle beneath. Instead of a. perforated plate, I can use a frame of wire or of open-work. The plate or frame F may be fitted to the sides 1 1 of thedepression after the manner of a dovetailed or other convenient joint. It will be-observed that by reason .of the tapering character of the edges of the plate .F and of the sides 1 l of'the bedplate the plate F cannot be forced throughor past the must be drawn backward.

the apparatus after the manner of a wash-cloth, water and soap are first applied to the .sponge or other soft material, E, when the frame or plate F, bearing with it the sponge, is removed from the bed-plate and held in the hand with the lower side of the plate next to the palm. In this position the sponge can be used to wash the different parts of the body. When the plate it withwater and squeezing it out, when it will clearitself through the openbottom of the plate F.

may use the apparatus to cleanse hishand and arm, the sponge is to be moistened and sup- These sides are made tapering, so as toapproach leaving a channel, G, in the bottom of the bed-' the sponge may run off from the apparatus, as

bed-plate;- butin order to insure its removal it It it is desired to use the washing-surface of F and sponge are replaced the latter can easilybe rinsed and cleaned out byalternately filling In order that one who has but a single hand I sition for this purpose.

plied with soap, when the hand and arm can be rubbed to and fro over and against the sponge. The bottom of the bed-plate is solid, and therefore any water which falls on it from the sponge and its plate is received in the channel .G, which is formed by the depression or recess cut in it between" the sides 1; 1,'and

v the water .will run off thence at'the lower end,

the apparatus being clamped in an inclined 'po- The form and size of the apparatus may be Varied,as' well as the mode of attaching it to any fixture, withoutdeparting from the prin.

ciple of my invention.

-I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettiers Patent- 1. A rubbing or washing surface composed with a bed-plate, upon which it may be fitted' by sliding in groovesof. otherwise, substantially-- as'described;

GUSTAV-E DIE-'IERIOHL Witnesses:

J. VAN SANTVOORD, O. D. MUNNL 

